Shoe construction



Jan. 23, 1940.

J. LAVg/ANDUS SHOE CONSTRUCTION Filed June 10, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 P IN TBRNAL CU N531 SCBPHO ID I ASTRAGALUS OS CALC IS ,IIIIII 27mm 2 Q3 q a Jan. 23, 1940.

J. LAWANDUS SHOE CONSTRUCTION Filed June 10, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 23, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to shoe construction, and more particularly to a corrective insole which may be built in the shoe, and on which the foot of a wearer is directly supported.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to provide a stiff but flexible insole of such a.

nature that the longitudinal arch of the foot is adequately supported at all times, and the foot is not permitted to elongate unduly in standing or walking.

Another object is to provide an insole which Will'retain the heel of the foot and thus prevent its moving forward relative to the insole.

.A still further object resides in the provision of a raised or convexed portion on an insole, which portion is arranged to preserve the shape of the metatarsal arch. v

It is another object of the invention to provide an insole or the like with means for elevating the forward end of the os calcis, so as to prevent its rotation and deformation of the inner longitudinal arch.

A general object of the invention to be described is to provide a shoe with an inner sole which will place the foot in proper balance.

Among the other specific purposes of this invention is the provision of an insole for shoes which will eliminate objectionable friction between the foot and shoe due to the improper flattening of the longitudinal arch and forward sliding movement of the foot generally.

It is also an object to provide a corrective insole combination for use in shoes of the usual types, either as an insert or as an integral part of-the shoe construction.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention, details of construction, and advantagesv will appear in the ensuing detailed description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred improve ment and one modification.

Referring to'the drawings: I

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the insole assembly as seen from its inner side, and including a dotted showing of the bone structure of a foot;

Fig. 2 is .a longitudinal section, taken on the. line A--A of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a further transverse section, along the line C-C of Fi 1;

Fig. 5 is an additional transverse section, along the line D-D of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan of the insole of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a side perspective view of a heel lift which is embodied in the insole construction; and

Fig. 8 is'a longitudinal section of a shoe having the insole assembled therein, and indicating a modification.

Attention is called preliminarily to the principal or inner longitudinal arch LA indicated in Fig. 1, and to the anterior transverse or metatarsal arch MA marked on the same figure.

A complete insole l0, preferably of a moldable material such as leather,'has a sheet member or lining 12 secured by suitable means, such as the rows l4, I6 of edge stitching, to the underside of the insole ID so as to cover substantially the entire shank and a portion of the heel of the latter. Anadhesive l8 may be used in combination with the stitches l4, l6. It will be observed that the member l2 has a forwardly extending-head portion l3 the purpose of which will be described.

As illustrated, the insole l0 preferably has a normal outline and is of substantially uniform" under the middle of its shank to the end of the heel. The tapered or skived edge 24 of the lift 22 runs diagonally in a generally concave curve from the outer rear edge of the heel of insole in, so that lift 22 lies almost completely inward of the longitudinal axis of the insole Ill. While leather possesses some resilience, it is preferred to fashion the heel lift 22 from more yielding rubber. Note is taken that the lift 22 is intermediate member l2 and the insole ill, with the row of stitching I4 passing through all three.

In order to give the insole In a longitudinally arched shape in the shank area where it underlies the longitudinal arch of a foot, a shank member 24 comprising a steel shank stiffener 26, longitudinally arched or convexed upwardly, a shank piece 28, and a resilient pad 30 are secured together and retained between insole Ill and member l2. Where a more flexible shank member 24 is desired, molded rubber or leather can be substituted for spring steel.

From what has been said, it will be understood that the function of the steel shank stiffener 26 is to limit resiliently the downward flexing of the upwardly arched portion of insole l0, and thereby to inhibit the undesirable flattening of the longitudinal arch and elongation of the foot. Fastening means, such as a nail 32, may be used to secure shank stiiiener 26 by its forward end to the lower face of the leather shank piece 28, which is relatively thin and appreciably narrower than the corresponding section of the insole Ill. The longitudinal edges 36, 36 of shank piece 28 may be skived, and, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, lie well inwardly of the approximately parallel edges of insole l0.

A rounded forward end 38 of piece 28 is covered on its underside by the generally coextensive head portion l3 of member I2, is positioned below the metatarsal arch area of insole i0, and cooperates with the resilient pad in a manner now to be described. Pad 30 is adhesively secured to the upper face of shank piece 28, and is coextensive with that portion of its upper face which extends from a point adapted to lie beneath the middle cuneiform to just short of its forward end- 30. Preferably pad 30 is of fine sponge rubber, with skived edges merging with the shank piece 28. Its flat underface 60 is given the longitudinal curve of the stiifener 26, but its upper face 62 is convexed as shown by Fig. l

and the section of Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 in which the superimposed portion of insole I0 is of a corresponding shape. This shape may be produced by molding the insole ill on a. last having a complemental recess and also provided with a convexity for cupping the heel area.

If the inner cookie or insole extension 46 ofthe Fig. 8 modification is made a part of the otherwise similar insole l00, it too will be molded to shape on thelast. The cookie 44 may be of leather; and it is positioned to extend from a short distance rearward of the middle of the inner edge of the heel portion of the insole I00 to a short distance past the center of the corresponding edge of the shank portion. At its lower edge 46 it is suitably secured to the insole I00, e. g., by a cement; and its upper edge 58 is convexed, as shown.

The cookie or wing 46 assists heel lift 22 in preventing inward rotation of the os calcis and helps to preserve the scaphoid-internal cunei form articulation.

The insole E0 of Figs. 1 .to 5 obviously is adapted for use in any type of shoe construction where a sewing channel is not required, for example, McKay, cement, or stitch-down. Without modification, it can also be added as a slip insole to i any completely assembled shoe.

However, the insole I00 in the Fig. 8 modification is channeled, as indicated by the reference numeral l03, for attachment to a welt I05 of the illustrated welt shoe construction 106. Although not shown, it is to be understood that the margins of the member I20, covering the shank of the insole, will be channeled to provide continuations of the insole channel 1'03. The cookie 44 may be secured to the upper 101 of welt shoe I06 in any conventional manner.

A mans shoe has been shown for purposes of illustration, but the principles of this invention can be adapted readily to a woman's shoe by the skilled worker in this art.

The insole construction of this invention produces a balanced shoe which causes a foot to function in a normal way and insures the continued function in a normal manner of an unintermediate the insole edges, for maintaining its areaaas distorted foot. The various features which have been described in detail act in combination to retain the heel of a wearer against sliding relative to the shoe insole, to prevent rotation of the forward end of the os calcis, to maintain the inner longitudinal arch of a foot by elevating the specified bones adjacent the os calcis, to maintain the bones on the opposite side of a foot in proper alignment, and to preserve the shape of the metatarsal arch of a foot so that it will not spread and cause uncomfortable impingement at the metatarsal heads. As hitherto noted, downward deflection of the longitudinal arch is resiliently resisted and sliding friction further obviated.

Although many variations from the foregoing 1 embodiment will be apparent, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. As part of a shoe construction, an innersole having a cupped heel portion which is of greatest elevation at its inside to prevent rotation of the os calcis in that direction, an upwardly arched forward heel and shank portion which is higher at its inside edge to conform to the inner longitudinal arch cavity of a foot, and an upwardly convexed portion extending intermediate the innersole edges for substantially the length of the innersole shank for preserving the shape of the metatarsal arch of a foot; means for resiliently resisting flattening of the upwardly arched shank and heel portions of the innersole;

and means underlying the upwardly convexed portion, and intermediate the innersole edges, for maintaining its shape.

2. In a welt shoe, 9. channeled innersole having a cupped heel portion which isof greatest elevation at its inside to prevent rotation of the os calcis in that direction, an upwardly arched forward heel and shank portion which is higher at its inside edge to conform to the inner longitudinal arch cavity of a foot, and an upwardly convexed portion extending intermediate the innersole edges for substantially the length of the shoe shank for preserving the shape of the metatarsal arch of a foot; stiffener means for resiliently resisting flattening of the upwardly arched wardly convexed portion, and intermediate the inner sole edges, for maintaining its shape.

3. The combination comprising an insole of normal outline and'substantially uniform thicke ness having a cupped heel portion which is of greatest elevation at its inside to prevent rotation of the os calcis in that direction, an upwardly arched forward heel and shank portion which is higher at its inside edge to conform to the inner longitudinal arch cavity of a foot, and an upwardly convexed portion extending intermediate the insole edges for substantially the length of the innersole shank for preserving the shape of the metatarsal arch of a foot; metallic shank stiffener means for resiliently resisting flattening of the upwardly arched shank and heel portions of the insole; and resilient means underlying the upwardly convexed portion, and also shape.

4. The combination comprising an insole of normal outline having a cupped heel portion which is of greatest elevation at its inside to prevent rotation of the os calcis in that direction,

an upwardly arched forward heel and shank portion which is higher at its inside edge to conform to the inner longitudinal arch cavity of a foot, and an upwardly convexed portion extending intermediate the insole edges for substantially the length of the innersole shank for preserving the shape of the metatarsal arch of a foot; a flexible wing member extending from the inner edge of the insole and arranged to support the scaphoid-internal cuneiform articulation of a wearers foot; means for resiliently resisting flattening of the upwardly arched shank and heel portions of the insole; and means underlying the upwardly convexed portion, and

also intermediate the insole edges, for maintaining its shape. v

5. The combination comprising an insole; a sheet member secured to the underside of the insole and covering the entire shank and a portion of the heel thereof; a shank comprising a longitudinally arched stiffener, a shank piece, and a longitudinally and transversely convexed resilient pad all intermediate the insole and the sheet member; and a wedge-shaped heel lift underlying theheel of the insole on its inner side and tapering toward its longitudinal axis, said insole being cupped on its upper heel surface, longitudinally arched at its shank, and generally convex in the area over the resilient pad of the shank, which pad extends longitudinally of the insole and inwardly of its edges from the front portion of the heel area to the metatarsal arch area, whereby the cupped heel portion of the insole prevents the foot of a user from sliding forward, the heel lift elevates the forward end of the os calcis and prevents it from rotating, the arched shank of the insole limits downward flexing of the longitudinal arch, and the convex portion overlying the resilient pad of the shank serves to preserve the shape of the metatarsal arch.

6. A welt shoe which includes a channeled in-' nersole; a sheet member secured to the underside of the innersole and covering the entire shank and a portion of the heel thereof; a shank comprising a longitudinally arched stiffener, a shank piece, and a longitudinally and transversely convexed resilient pad in the order recited between the innersole and sheet member; and 'awedge shaped heel lift underlying the heel of the innersole on its innerside and tapering toward its longitudinal axis, said innersole being cupped on its upper heel surface, longitudinally arched at its shank, and generally convexed in the area over the resilient pad of the shank, which pad extends longitudinally of the innersole and inwardly of its edges from the front portion of the heel area to the metatarsal arch area, whereby the cupped heel portion of the innersole prevents the foot of a user from sliding forward, the heel lift elevates the forward end of the os calcis and prevents it from rotating, the arched shank of the innersole limits downward flexing of the longitudinal arch, and the convexed portion overlying the resilient pad of the shank serves to preserve the shape of the metatarsal arch.

7. The combination comprising an insole; a sheet member secured to the underside of the insole and covering the entire shank and a portion of the heel thereof; a shank comprising a longitudinally arched stiffener, a shank piece, and a longitudinally and transversely convexed resilient pad all intermediate the insole and the sheet member; and a wedge-shaped heel lift underlying the heel of the insole on its inner side and tapering toward its longitudinal axis, said insole being cupped on its upper heel surface, longitudinally arched at its shank and generally convex in the area over the resilient pad of the shank, which pad extends longitudinally of the insole and inwardly of its edges from the front portion of the heel area to the metatarsal arch area, and having a cookie extension projecting from its arched inner edge whereby the cupped heel portion of the insole prevents the foot of a user from sliding forward, the heel lift elevates the forward end of the os calcis and prevents it from rotating,

the arched shank of the insole limits downward flexing of the longitudinal arch, the convexv portion overlying the resilient pad of the shank serves to preserve the shape of the metatarsal arch, and the cookie extension aids in the preservation of the scaphoid-internal cuneiform articulation. l

8. The combination comprising an insole; a sheet member secured to the underside of the insole and covering the entire shank and a portion of the heel thereof, said member having a forwardly extending head portion; a shank comprising a longitudinally arched metal stiffener, a shank piece having its forward end under the head portion of the sheet member, and a longitudinally and transversely convexed rubber pad all intermediate the insole and the sheet member; and a wedge-shaped resilient heel lift underlying the heel of the insole on its inner side and tapering toward its longitudinal axis, said insole being cupped on its upper heel surface, longitudinally arched at its shank and generally convex in the area over the rubber pad of the shank, which pad extends longitudinally of the insole and inwardly of its edges from the front portion of the heel area to the metatarsal arch area, whereby the cupped heel portion of the insole prevents the foot of a user from sliding forward, the heel lift elevates the forward end of the os calcis and prevents itfrom rotating, the arched shank of the insole limits downw'ardflexing of the longitudinal arch, and the convex portion overlying the resilient pad of the shank serves to preserve the shape of the metatarsal arch.

JOHN LAWANDUS. 

